Nature's Design: Exploring the Mysteries of the Natural World

by Richard L. Thompson

Why do cows have four stomachs?
Where and how do plants survive in conditions of extreme aridity?
How do animals plan complex hunting strategies?
How many elephants are too many?

This compelling book explores and finds answers to some of nature's most intriguing mysteries, from evolution todeath, predation to communication, feeding to reproduction, adversity to that most contentious of issues animal consciousness. Drawing on the southern African landscape for his research and examples, the author reveals the workings, both in detail and on a grand scale, of life in the natural world.

Playful line drawings illustrate the clear text, to make a bumper read for the burgeoning popular science market.

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

Richard Leslie Thompson, also known as Sadaputa Dasa (February 4, 1947 – September 18, 2008), was an American mathematician, author and Gaudiya Vaishnava religious figure, known principally for his promotion of Vedic creationism and as the co-author (with Michael Cremo) of Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race (1993), which has been widely criticised by the scientific community. Thompson also published several books and articles on religion and science, Hindu cosmology and astronomy. He was a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON) and a founding member of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the branch of ISKCON dedicated to examining the relationship of modern scientific theories to the Vaishnava worldview. In the 'science and religion' community he was known for his articulation of ISKCON's view of science. Danish historian of religion Mikael Rothstein described Thompson as "the single dominating writer on science" in ISKCON whom ISKCON has chosen to "cover the field of science more or less on his own". C. Mackenzie Brown, professor of religion at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, described him as "the leading figure" in ISKCON's critique of modern science.
Thompson died on September 18, 2008. His body was found at the bottom of his swimming pool at his home in Alachua, Florida, USA. He had suffered a heart attack, a condition there has been some history of in his family.

Reviews

[Mirror4558 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It gets a bit dry at times, but it's quite informative and the drawings make the book livelier.